If you are in good shape and of average height, then you don’t have to worry. If you are big and tall, XL options are often available as the most premium choices. If you are short or quite petite, then you may be able to save weight and money by using a 3/4-length pad. The reason we didn’t include any short pads is that in winter, you don’t want your feet to hang off the end, or they will get very cold at night. Noise The Nemo Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad, like the previous models mentioned above, does have a non-insulated version with a 1.6 R-value, which again, doesn’t make the cut for a good 3-season sleeping pad in my opinion, so the insulated version wins again. Why this sleeping pad is great for side sleepers We are so serious about comfort, dependability and guaranteed quality that we invested in a special machine to test all R-values in house during development, in addition to a final third-party testing for a proven R-Value that you’ll find labeled on each of our pads. If you really want to geek out with us, you might be impressed to know that our very own in-house pad wizard was on the board that helped establish the R-Value rating system of ASTM F3340-18. Not only are we compliant, we are confident in the performance of these pads for a variety of use throughout the seasons. Photo by: Devon Balet The other thing that you will notice in the video is that the insulation isn’t always bonded for its full width on the top surface of the tube. Once the insulation becomes separated from the surface it is bonded to, cold air can now circulate along that surface and the insulation is no longer providing any benefit. A sleeping pad attachment system enables the usage of a strap or chord wrapped underneath a sleeping pad that can then be attached to the attachment loops on a quilt. This keeps your quilt in place and allows you to turn from side to side while not having to worry about repositioning your quilt.

Synthetic insulation, while heavier than down, is often a better option because it is less likely to be affected by condensation that inevitably finds its way into any inflatable pad. Down Insulation Last but not least is how much it costs for an insulated sleeping pad vs a non-insulated one. Firstly, it is more expensive as more materials are used as well as extra, often complicated, steps in the manufacturing process.

Standard size for most sleeping pads is 20” x 72”, but as side sleepers we may require a little additional space to maximize our comfort. Because we tend to shift from side to side, having a wider sleeping pad helps us stay on our pad and not roll off onto the cold ground. If you are a side sleeper that stays put, then a standard size pad might work great for you. According to BA the primary features that are new with this version of the Insulated Air Core Ultra are as follows: The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus XT Insulated Air is another winter sleeping bag that feels warmer than its 4.8 R-value rating. It has air-sprung baffles created by spot welds instead of seams so that you get a very even platform to sleep on. These air-sprung baffles seem to conform to your body better than other directional baffles.

No R value is stated by BA, only a 15 degree temp, but in comparing its specs to similar pads, most have an R value of 4-5. In temps of 35 degrees or below I find that using a foam pad beneath the inflatable makes a big difference in warmth and all so necessary if the pad deflates.Because the insulation feature of this mattress is not well communicated by BA, I decided to dig a little deeper to see what is going on inside of the Insulated Air Core Ultra. The out port on the valve assembly used to deflate the mattress is just a simple opening that is reasonably large and actually large enough for me to insert a borescope to take a look at inside the mattress. The NeoAir XLite is only available in a mummy shape, but they offer various sizing options including a regular, small, large, and regular wide. A wide version is always a perk when it comes to side sleepers to help ensure we stay on the pad throughout our shifting from side to side during the night.

Before I get into what I learned, I will share a short video I made that if you view it first, my discussion below will make a lot more sense. The video is of one of the smaller diameter center tubes next to the larger diameter side tubes. Based on the advice from multiple sleeping pad manufacturers and specialists, you need an R-value of at least 5 to safely camp in winter temperatures. This will provide enough resistance to stop you from losing body heat to the cold, hard ground.Before I get into the details of the Insulated Air Core Ultra design, I wanted to comment on how comfortable the mattress is to sleep on since this is the primary reason for buying a mattress. As I mentioned earlier, I have been using an earlier version of this design for a number of years and have always found it very comfortable. While my old mattress size was a 25 x 72 and the mattress I am reviewing is a 20 x 78, I found this mattress to be just as comfortable as my old mattress. So from a sleeping perspective I am a very happy camper sleeping on this mattress. Our 2020 lineup of pads was completely redesigned by our Product Development team with the initiative to improve overall quality while meeting a desired R-Value that correlates to its intended use. If that’s not enough, all of our pads are still individually inflated and tested at our factory ensuring 100% quality performance. Some people think that it is sleeping bags that keep you warm in a tent, but without a sleeping pad, your sleeping bag will only keep you warm from the top. Sleeping pads are what keep your underside warm, and they serve a very important role in resisting heat loss through the ground. If you can’t prevent losing heat through the frosty ground, you won’t last very long in winter. Is R-Value 2.5 Good for A Sleeping Pad?